Cotton Seed Technology

Experts argue that India's Mission for Cotton Productivity may struggle to revive yields and exports unless next-generation genetic technologies and science-led reforms are adopted

Existing deadlock renders future investments in the sector uncertain, say industry players

Indian cotton seed companies will no longer require a No-ObjectionCertificate (NoC) from license providers for developing and registering new varieties based on theirtechnology.The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority(PPVFRA), the body responsible for protection of plant varieties and theirintellectual property rights has waived off the condition.This could also enable cotton seed manufacturers to develop their ownvarieties using existing technologies without seeking a permission from thelicense holder.Officials said some years back, the Genetic Engineering AppraisalCommittee (GEAC) under the ministry of environment and forests had lifted thecondition and now PPVFRA has also removed it. All seed companies had to mandatorily get a NoC from PPVFRA everytime they planned to develop a new variety based on the registered technology. The waiver could also open the door for many companies to develop newhybrid cotton seed varieties based on Monsanto's Bollgard-2 ...